Origins of the Continent - Aboriginal perspective

What is the Dreaming? The "Dreaming" is the central concept in Aboriginal spirituality and is the closest translation of the Aboriginal concept of how the world works. All aspects of Aboriginal religion and life are dependent upon the Dreaming and one's relation to it. The Dreaming tells of the journey and the actions of Ancestral Beings who created the natural world.

How do Aboriginal people believe the Australian continent was formed? Dreamtime Stories are stories which explain how the natural world came to be the way it is. They usually concentrate on one particular plant, animal or landform and the way the ancestor spirits created or altered it. Dreamtime stories are shared in Aboriginal communities through storytelling, dancing, songs and artwork. Children are generally told a simple version of the stories, and as they get older they learn more detailed versions of the stories.

How was Uluru formed? Some Aborigines believe that Uluru is a monument to an epic battle between two tribes of Ancestor beings, the Liru (Poisonous snake people) and the Kunia people (Carpet snake people). Every shape, mark, hollow and boulder was formed as a result of this battle: tree rock hollows show where Ungata, the leader of the Kunia people died; the water that flows down the rock face is Ungatta’s blood; the severed nose of the Liru warrior Kulikitjeri has changed into a boulder; three vertical gashes on the eastern rock face record the wounds inflicted on Kulikitjeri by Liru; a cave complex on the rock is the womb of Bulari Minma, who gave birth there at the height of the battle; her child lies at the entrance as a large stone.

Activity:

There are many, well-known Dreamtime stories such as how the Three Sisters were formed, and how Uluru was formed. Research one Dreamtime story, and write a paragraph that describes how the story explains how part of the Australian continent was formed or created. Underneath your explanation, create a cartoon (at least 10 frames) that tells the dreamtime story. Your cartoon must include speech bubbles, or explanations of the setting or story development, colour, and be well-presented.